Anne, Princess Royal

NAME Anne, Princess Royal (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Anne, Princess Royal, is known for her royal status as the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. She is recognized for her royal duties, charity work, and equestrian accomplishments.

BIRTH August 15, 1950, Clarence House, London, England

FAMILY BACKGROUND Princess Anne is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. She is the younger sister of King Charles III, and the older sister of Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

CHILDHOOD Princess Anne spent her early years in the royal family, experiencing both the privileges and responsibilities that came with her status. She was known for her love of horses from a young age.

EDUCATION Princess Anne attended Benenden School in Kent, England, the first British female royal to attend boarding school. She later studied at the Gordonstoun School in Scotland, which was also attended by her brothers, Charles and Andrew.

CAREER RECORD Princess Anne Anne has dedicated much of her life to public service, undertaking numerous official engagements and representing the Queen at home and abroad since 1969

Holds the title of Princess Royal since 1987

Patron or president of over 300 organizations

First member of the British Royal Family to compete in the Olympics (1976)

Won individual gold and team silver medals in European Eventing Championships

APPEARANCE Princess Anne is recognized for her classic and regal appearance, often seen in elegant attire befitting her royal status. 

Princess Anne 2023 https://gg.govt.nz/governor-general/blog/2023/02/audience-hrh-princess-royal,

FASHION Anne's fashion style is characterized by timeless and traditional choices. She is known for her practicality and often repeats outfits. She favors classic and tailored styles and is known for her signature brooches

CHARACTER Princess Anne is perceived as pragmatic, down-to-earth, and hardworking. She has a reputation for being straightforward and no-nonsense.

SENSE OF HUMOR Anne has a dry and often self-deprecating sense of humor. She is known for her witty remarks and ability to lighten serious situations.

RELATIONSHIPS Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips in front of a global television audience of an estimated 500 million, at Westminster Abbey, on November 14, 1973. This event was a significant moment in British history, marking the first royal wedding to be televised and setting the stage for future royal weddings to be widely viewed by the public.

The couple had two children - Peter, born in 1977 and Zara in 1981.

Princess Anne separated from Captain Mark Phillips on August 31, 1989. Their marriage had been under strain for several years before they officially announced their separation. They finalized their divorce in 1992.

On December 12, 1992, Princess Anne married a naval officer, Commander Timothy Laurence, whom she had met while he served as her mother's equerry.  The ceremony took place at Crathie Kirk, which is located near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. This location was chosen because, at the time, the Church of England did not permit the remarriage of divorced individuals, while the Church of Scotland allowed it under certain circumstances.

The wedding was a private affair, attended by approximately 30 guests, including Anne's children from her first marriage. Princess Anne wore a simple white suit for the occasion, and Commander Laurence was in his Royal Navy uniform. 

This marriage was significant as Princess Anne was the first child of the British monarch to remarry after a divorce.

MONEY AND FAME As a member of the royal family, Princess Anne has access to substantial wealth. However, she has also earned respect for her own accomplishments and dedication to public service.

She is financially supported by the Sovereign Grant

FOOD AND DRINK Anne's personal preferences in food and drink are not extensively documented, but she is known to enjoy traditional British fare

MUSIC AND ARTS Princess Anne is not particularly known for her involvement in music and the arts, but is supportive of the arts and cultural institutions

LITERATURE Literature is not a major focus

NATURE Anne's love for nature is evident in her passion for horse riding and outdoor activities

HOBBIES AND SPORTS A passionate equestrian and horse enthusiast,  Princess Anne has ridden in the British Equestrian Team, was European cross-country champion in 1972, In 1976, she became the first member of the British royal family to compete in the Olympic Games., and completed in the 1976 Olympics.

On August 5, 1986, Princess Anne achieved her inaugural victory as an amateur flat race jockey. Riding Gulfland, she triumphed in the 3.45 race at Redcar.

Continuing the family's equestrian legacy, Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Phillips, is an avid and accomplished competitor in horse riding. Teaming up with her horse, Toytown, Zara secured individual and team gold medals at the 2005 European Eventing Championship. She further clinched individual gold and team silver medals at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. Zara's exceptional achievements were recognized when she received the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award in 2016, marking 35 years since her mother had been honored with the same prestigious accolade.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Not a major focus in her public life

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Princess Anne's public life does not prominently feature her philosophical or theological views, and she maintains a private stance on these matters.

SCANDAL On March 20, 1974, Princess Anne was the victim of a kidnapping attempt while returning to Buckingham Palace from a charity event. A disturbed man, Ian Ball, fired a pistol and injured four people, including Princess Anne's personal bodyguard and a journalist. During the struggle, Princess Anne reportedly remained calm and even spoke to Ball, which some believe helped to prevent further violence. Ball was apprehended and sentenced to life imprisonment. Thankfully, none of the injuries were life-threatening.

 In 1983, she spoke about the event on Parkinson, saying she was "scrupulously polite2 to Ball as she thought it would be "silly to be too rude at that stage."

In 2002, Princess Anne faced a different kind of public scrutiny related to her English Bull Terrier, Dotty. While walking in Windsor Great Park, Dotty broke free from her leash and bit two young boys, aged 7 and 12. She was prosecuted and became the first member of the Royal Family to have a criminal record since King Charles I was convicted of treason and beheaded in 1649.

MILITARY RECORD She holds honorary military appointments and has been actively involved with military charities, but Princess Anne did not serve in the armed forces.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS The 7-year-old Princess Anne had her tonsils and adenoids out at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street on May 4, 1958. She was the first member of the Royal Family to have an operation in a hospital.

Princess Anne has maintained a good level of physical fitness throughout her life.

HOMES Her official residence is at Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire. She has other residences around the UK

TRAVEL As a representative of the royal family, Princess Anne has traveled extensively, undertaking official visits and engagements on behalf of the Queen.

Princess Anne successfully obtained her driver's license on April 17, 1968, in Isleworth, Middlesex, passing on her first attempt. At the age of 17, she operated a red Rover 2000. Her initial driving lessons took place at Balmoral, Windsor, and Sandringham, under the guidance of her instructors, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Princess Anne has made numerous public appearances throughout her life, participating in official events, ceremonies, and charity work. She has been featured in documentaries and news coverage.

The attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne is the focus of the Granada Television-produced docudrama To Kidnap a Princess (2006) and inspired story lines in Tom Clancy's novel Patriot Games.

ACHIEVEMENTS Holds numerous honorary military positions

Awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 1971

Holds various other awards and recognitions for her work

Princess Anne was the first UK royal to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was nominated in 1990 by Kenneth Kaunda, the then-President of Zambia, for her extensive humanitarian work with Save the Children.

Recognized as a dedicated public servant and influential figure